Tim Paynter Selected Host Un Dia Sin Fronteras

By Jore S. Paz

Local talk show host, writer and human right’s activist Tim Paynter was selected to host a new radio show on 1150 am Radio today called Un Dia Sin Fronteras.  The title translates to “One day without borders”.  Paynter said he was ecstatic about the chance to be of service to the Latino community. 

“My dream” Paynter said in an exclusive interview, “is for all people to live under the skies of America as free people.  This will give me a chance to bring the message of justice and immigration reform to the Spanish speaking community.”

The program premiers on Monday, April 16th  at 12:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time on 1150 AM radio in the Metro Denver area.  For those who live outside of the area, the program is on the internet at 1150 onda KNRV.  The voice line is 303.337.1150.

Paynter is a Colorado attorney who has also been involved in Arizona politics.  He was arrested along with the “Phoenix 100”, referring to 100 people who were arrested on July 29th and 30th, 2010 while protesting Arizona SB 1070, one of the toughest anti-immigrant laws passed to that date.  After the prosecution was unable to obtain guilty verdicts in test trials against some of the protesters, the charges were dismissed against nearly all of the Phoenix 100, including Paynter. 

District court judge Susan Bolton struck down portions of SB 1070.  Other sections of the law remain in extended litigation costing the state of Arizona millions of dollars in legal fees.  An estimated 200,000 immigrants and their US citizen family members fled Arizona devastating the state tax base and leaving the Grand Canyon State with billions of dollars in deficits.

Un Dia Sin Fronteras will work towards unifying the immigrant community as well as informing Latinos about current successes and challenges. 

“Why not grant driver’s licenses to undocumented workers so the police can identify an immigrant in a traffic stop just like you and me?” Paynter asked.  “That will give undocumented workers an easier path to purchasing automobile insurance, which is a benefit to every driver on the road.” Paynter continued.

“Nearly half of the copy-cat anti-immigrant laws proposed in other states after SB 1070 were defeated including one in Colorado, SB 11-54.” Paynter said.  “Yet we have some difficult times ahead of us.  Florida, for example, is working on a horrible law.  The Dream Act, which would allow the youth of undocumented immigrants the chance to go to college, was defeated during the lame duck session in 2010.  Meanwhile, Republicans passed a law granting those earning a million dollars in net income another million dollars in tax savings.” Paynter noted.

Paynter is active in local efforts to stop the deportation of Valente and Manuel Valenzuela, two brothers who fought in Viet Nam.

“It is outrageous these two brave men who put their lives on the line for our country are facing deportation.  This tells me our country lacks gratitude for the sacrifices of our veterans.”  Paynter also is advocating for the passage of a local initiative the Higher Education Access Initiative, or HEAA, to grant in-state tuition to undocumented youth who have lived in Colorado for a lengthy period of time.

“In Colorado”, Paynter continued, “Democratic Gov. John Hickenlooper did not mention a path to citizenship for the 12 million undocumented immigrants in his four point solution to the immigration problem.  Immigrants were big supporters, yet he has failed to speak to a rational solution.  Yes, indeed, we have a lot of work to do!”